Refrigeration mechanism



Patented June 9, 1942 REFRIGERATION MECHANISM Roland H.,Money, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Crosley Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application February v1, 1939, Serial No. 254,065

(Cl. B30-58) 6 Claims.

are located in a sealed dome. While the principles of the invention apply equally to types of refrigeration mechanism so operated that the dome is a high side dome, I shall describe it in an exemplary embodiment in which a refrigerant g is used which dissolves oil in all proportions, and

in which the dome is operated as a low side dome. The lowered pressure in the dome keeps the oil relatively free of refrigerant and maintains its viscosity and effectiveness. v

My present invention provides a newarrangement of mechanism which has for its main objects the provision of a more copious lubricant supply to the moving parts, improved lubricant delivery means, a simpler but more eiiicient means for pumping and circulating lubricant, a better and more eillcient way of cooling the compressor cylinder block, a simpler bearing structure, centering means which is effective without the use of mechanical end thrust bearings, and the securing of these advantages in a structure which is much less complex, much .simpler and less expensive to construct, much less liable to come out of repair and adjustment, and much quieter and more free of vibration in operation. These several objects and others which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading this specification, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe the aforesaid exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through my motor and compressor unit.

Figure 2l is an elevational view (with parts in section) of the oil circulatory system, the view being taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an oil receiving and distributing member.

The novel and advantageous features of my new construction will be apparent from the ensuing description. My motor is arranged with its armature shaft horizontal or substantially so. This permits the use of the novel oil circulatory device hereinafter set forth. The motor and compressor are placed in a dome; and it is an advantage of my invention that 'the domes hitherto employed may be used without change excepting in the manner of mounting. In the drawing, I represents the body portion of a dome of commercial design, and 3 the cap or head portion thereof. The parts have vmating flanges which, in-the exemplary embodiment are welded together, after the assembly of the apparatus as at 4. In order to mount the dome, I provide near the openv end of the body portion I, apair ofbrackets 5, rone Yon each side, and at the rear of the dome I provide a bracket 6. Spring members 'I are then used to support the dome on a suitable base in the usual way. One Aof the electrical connection ilttings is indicated at 8. 'I'he dome also has an entrance tting 9, which, since the dome 'is in this embodiment to be used as a low side dome, is connected directly with the evaporator of the refrigeration system. I have shown an outlet rltting at I0.

The dome is provided interiorly with certain brackets one of which is shown at II. A main motor frame I2 is mounted to these brackets by means of fittings i 3 and suitable bolts or the like, as shown. The statorassembly i4 of the motor is mounted directly to the mounting member I2.

The mounting member comprises an external and relatively. heavy ring connected by interspaced arms I5 to a central-member I6 which provides the sole bearing for the motor shaft I1. The armature assembly I8, by means of a hub I9 is mounted directly on the shaft I'I, as shown. I have indicated at 20 a set screw for fixing the hub I9 to the shaft; but the hub maybe fixed in other ways as desired, for example by keying.

At the lowest part of the mounting member I2 I afilx a cylinder block 2i; This is mounted by means of bolts or the like on a suitably shaped flat supporting vsurface on one of the arms I5. The cylinder block in my construction is a relatively simple block requiring very little machining since it is bored to provide a single cylinder 22 in which operates the piston 23. The lower end of the cylinder block is closed by a valve plate 24 bearing valves 25 and 26, as will be readily understood, and this in turn is covered by a suitably chambered cover plate 2'I having inlet and outlet ports, and held on by means of bolts or the like. The inlet port 28 is connected by an upwardly extending tube 29 to a muiiler 30. This is a hollow b'ody of suitable shape having a conduit, 3i connected to it and terminating within the dome at a point well above the oil line. It will be understood that the expanded refrigerant from the evaporator-enters the dome through the fitting 9 and then is drawn into the compressor through the conduit and muffler just dearmature of the motor, the piston 23 is recipro cated in the cylinder 22 through the intermediary of the Scotch yoke. Scotch yoke mechanismsv have been employed in compressors and do not require an extended description here. However, for the details of a Scotch yoke mechanism which is one of those capable ofl serving the present purpose, reference is made to my Patent No. 2,138,664. Y

It will be noted that my piston and cylinder arrangement is relatively simple and-inexpensive to construct because Ido not provide a separate oil pumping cylinder and piston arrangement therein. My oil circulatory arrangement is a separate mechanism but is in itself simple. It comprises a disc oi metal 38 which, by means of a suitable hub 39, is fastened upon an extended end of the crank arm 34. Because Ithecrank the inner cylindrical member 36 arm 34 is eccentric of-the axis of the shaft I1, A

the hub 39 is similarly made eccentric of the disc 38 so that the disc will rotate in a concentric manner. About the disc I fasten a semi-circular sheave comprising an outer member 40 and an inner member 4I joined at their edges. higure 2 is an elevational view from the rear of this sheave member and it will be noted that the inner plate 4I is cut away as at 42 suiciently to permit the orbital movement of the crank arm 34. The two parts of the covering may be made as stampings from metal with intertting edgeportions as shown in the various gures. Thus intertting edge portions may, if desired, be brazed or welded together. The `ycover member 40, 4I is slightly eccentric of the disc 38, sufliciently at least to permit at the top the insertion of the end of a tube 43 in the cover member. This is an oil delivery tube; and it is bent in a convenient manner so as to deliver oil to anoil receiver which will hereinafter be described.

The lower part of the dome contains a body -of oil 44 which is deep enough to come up around the walls of the cylinder block 2I and its associated parts, so as .to' cool these efciently; but it is preferably not so deep as to cause the oil itmaybe rastenedtoaiiange 4i onanoilreceiving tting 41 shown moet clearly in Figure 3. The body `of the oil receiving fitting is provided on the side opposite the fiange 4I with attachment lugs 48 by which it maybe fastened to an upper arm I5 of the mounting member I2 Centrally of the oil receiving device Iprovide a well 49 into which the end of the conduit 43 delivers the oil. 'Ihe well portion may be shouldered as shown and provided with an oil strainer I! in the form of a disc of ilne screen wire or the like. From the side of the well 49 I have shown a small. conduit 5I making a connection with the bearingV member IB. This bearing member is provided with an oil chamber 52 surrounding the shaft I1. A drilled passageway 5t connects this chamber with the tube 5I so that during the operation of the mechanism oil is continually being supplied to the chamber 52. The well 49 is also provided with a bottom outlet il which delivers oil down on top of the Scotch yoke. The outer member 31 of the yoke is perforated as at 55 to permit oil to get inside it for the lubrication of the'mutually sliding surfaces of the parts 3i and 31. The part 36 is likewise provided with an oil chamber 56 surrounding the crank arm 34 and comunicating by means of a passageway 5i with the perforation 55 in the outer Scotch yoke member. Oil is thus delivered to all moving parts ofthe crank arm and Scotch yoke arrangement.

During the operation of the device much more oil is delivered through the conduit 43 than can be taken care of by the well 49. This oil fiows over the flange portions 41 of the oil device and spills .off the ends thereof down onto l the various partsl including the upper portions of the cylinder block. 'I'hus oil is delivered at the juncture of the piston and the cylinder bore, so as to assist in sealing the piston, to lubricate it and incidentally to cool the parts.

Itvwill also be observed that whereas there is a single bearing I6 for the armature shaft I1 I have not provided mechanical end thrust bearings to take up endwise play. The eounterweight portion 35 on the one hand and the hub I9 on the other would prevent ultimate displacement of the armature shaft; but these are not brought up tightly against the ends of the bearing Ii. The shaft I1 is, however, centered in a frictonle manner through the action of the oil on each side of the disc 38. During the operation of the machine, oil pressure is built up ,on each side of to come into contact with the armature assemf bly I8. The disc 38 is made sufficiently large toI dip into the oil. This disc rotates in such a way as to drive oil into the cover member 40, 4I.- As it is shown in Figure 2, the direction of this rotation is counter-clockwise. Oil clings to the `disc and is forced into `the cover member, riding around within the cover member with the disc and building up pressure therein due to centrifugal force. As a consequence', as soon as the disc begins to turn, a copious flow of oil is forced through the conduit '43. This ow starts at once and is eifective in less than one revolution of the shaft I1.

The cover member 40, 4I may be provided at its lowermost point with a mounting lug 44 by the Idisc 38 in the cover 40, 4I. Since the disc is fixed to the crank arm 34 of the slmft I1 this centers the shaft and keeps it, as it were, iioating endwise on a body of oil. The operation of my compressor is therefore much freer of Vvibra.- tion, much quieter and much. freer of friction due to thefact that mechanical end thrust bearings are not employed. At the start of a refrigeration cycle there may be lsome foaming of the body of oil 44 due to release by the low pressure of refrigerant from the oil. However, this foaming stops after a few seconds during the cycle, although-it does no'harm in any event.

Modications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it.

Having now fully described my invention, what Iclaim asnew and desiretosecurebyhetters Patent is:

1. AIn a refrigerating apparatus. a dome, a motor and compressor in said dome, a rotating disc.

`a cover for a portion of said disc, said cover having parts substantially conforming to but interspaced from the periphery and oppote side portions of said disc, a body of lubricantl in said dome, said disc, extending into said lubricant whereby upon rotation of said disc lubricant is forced into said cover under pressure, and means for delivering lubricant from said cover to parts of said mechanism to be lubricated.

2. In a device of the character described, a dome, a body lubricant in said dome a motor and compressor having a horizontal operating shaft, a pressure oil circulatory means comprising a disc mounted on said shaftfor dipping into said body of lubricant, cover means vfor portions of opposite sides and the periphery of said disc into which said disc forces lubricant, and lubricant delivery means from said cover member, said compressor comprising a cylinder block, said cylinder block being located in part atleast within said body of lubricant.

3. In a device of the character described, a dome, a body of lubricant lin said dome, a motor and compressor having a horizontal operating shaft, a pressure oil circulatory means comprising a disc mounted on said shaft for dipping into said body of lubricant, cover means for portions of opposite sides and the periphery of said disc' having a piston, said shaft having a crank arm,

Scotch'yoke connection means connecting said piston and said crank arm, and said lubricant delivery means arranged to deliver lubricant to said Scotch yoke means.

4. Ina device of the character described, a

dome containing a body of lubricant, a motor and compressor assembly mounted y, therein and having a shaft which is disposed horizontally in a horizontal bearing, a disc attached tor said shaft and extending into said body of lubricant, a cover for portions of the periphery and opposite sides of said disc into which oil is forced under pressure by said disc 'so as to vbuild up pressure on either side of said disc to center said shaft in said bearing.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, a horizontally disposed dome, a mounting ring supported in said dome,'a motor stator assembly supported by said ring, a bearing'supported by said ring, a shaft in l said bearing, a motor rotor assembly mounted on said shaft, a compressor connected with said shaft, a disc mounted on said shaft, a body of lubricant in said dome, said disc extending into said lubricant, cover means for peripheral and opposed side portions of said disc, said cover means being provided with a conduit whereby upon rotation of said disc cil is forced under pressure into said cover means and out through said conduit, and lubricant delivery means for receiving said oil and distributing it to moving parts of said apparatus. 

